Container closure



May 30, 1939.. R. B. BUKOLT- CONTAINER CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1934 u m a a 8 g Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES.

2,160,430 comma cLosoTu:

Roman n. Bukolt,

Stevens Point, Wis.

Application April 10, 1934, Serial No. 719,961

15 Claims.

The invention relates to closures for various kinds of containers and relates primarily to containers which must be sealed airtightly. The closing means of such containers is provided with a yieldable sealing member such as a rubber ring,

or consists of a yieldable moisture-proofed cardboard disk, etc., and the invention aims to provide a new and improved construction inwhich said container closing means is clamped with unusually great pressure against the container to prevent leakage and spoiling of contents, yet may be easily released to allow convenient opening of the container. The invention is particularly adapted for use on glass jars for food preservation, but is well adapted also for much larger containers, for instance, barrels, drums and kegs,

and in the latter field of use, the closure will serve to give easy access to the interior of any container upon which it is used for cleaning, coating, etc.

In carrying out the above end, I utilize resilient snap means which is adapted for snapping from an initial position to an active position at which it tightly compresses a yieldable portion of the container closing means against the container, said snap means consisting of a spring metal disk adapted to snap in either direction when its central portion is forced in that direction, 'and a further aim is to provide a disk which may be snapped with ease to the active position at which it effects compression of said yieldable portion of the container closing means, yet will require much greater force to snap it back to released position. This insures that the disk may. be made to remain in its active position regardless of different internal and external pressures which would otherwise tend'to snap the disk to released position.

A still further object is to make novel provision for easily -snapping the disk to'released position whenever required, allowing easy removal of the closure. 1

Yet another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive yet an efiicient and durable construction.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention constituting a cap designed primarily for a glass jar, the snap disk being shown in its initial inactive position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the snap disk sna ed to its active position at which it tightly compresses the yieldable portion of the container closing means against the jar. This view also illustrates one form of releasing tool which may be usedior snapping the snap disk back to its released position to allow easy removalof the closure.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a different form of releasing tool.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the addition of a covering sheet of paper or the like which prevents any undetected release of the closure.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is' a sectional view showing the closure construction which is used upon beer kegs and the like, the closure being held in sealed position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 1 of Fig. 6.

, Fig.8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the use of a jack for the purpose of snapping the snap disk to released position. The caps shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 use upon the usual threaded neck 9 of a glass jar Hi. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the jar closing means consists of a disk l2 having a yieldable portion or sealing ring II which rests on the neck 9. Extending over the. disk I2 which acts as a pressure disk for the ring H, is a snap disk I 3, and an attaching member I 4 is provided for holding the parts H, I 2 and I3 upon the neck 9, said attaching member being in the form of an annular wall or ring threaded to engage the threaded neck. The upper edge of this ring is provided with an inwardly projecting flange I5 whose lower side is engaged by the edge of the snap disk l3. The lower side ofthis snap disk abuts an annular ridge "5 on the upper side of the presser disk l2, said ridge being concentric with and spaced inwardly from the edge of said snap disk.

Initially, the parts stand in the relation shown in Fig. 1 and with them in said relation, the ring I 4 is screwed firmly onto the neck 9 with no efiort made however to tighten the cap to any where near the extent to which the usual threadare for ed cap must be tightened. The central portion of the disk I3 is then snapped inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. In'snapping to this" position, the disk exerts a. lever action, forces outwardly upon the flange l5 and forces inwardly upon the ridge l6, thereby causing the presser disk l2 to compress the sealing ring ll against the neck 9 with extreme pressure. This establishes a hermetic seal which is so tight that it is by hand, without first restoring the snap disk I3 to its initial inactive position. When the jar is to be opened however, the snap disk is snapped outwardly so that it again occupies the position shown in Fig. l and the cap may then be readily unthreaded from the jar.

In order that disk l3 may be outwardly snapped to the position of Fig. l, Iprovide it with a central opening I! which provides said disk with an accessible part l8. Through the opening,

a tool such as IQ of Fig. 2 or of Fig. 3, may be inserted. This tool may then be used as a lever, acting against the presser plate 12 as a fulcrum and acting upwardly against the center of the disk B, so that the latter may be easily pried to the position at which it will again snap outwardly.

In constructing the snap disk l3, it is peened or hammered on both sides so that said sides are expanded radially to a suflicient extent to cause the disk to snap in one direction or the other. One side of the disk may be thus treated 'to a greater extent than the other side, with the result that whereas the disk may be easily snapped to its active position; it can only be snapped from said position by the application of a much greater force, thereby insuring that the sealing means shall be held with extreme force against the jar. This is of particular importance in forms of construction such as that shown in Fig. 5, in which the inner side of the snap disk I3 .is subjected to the differences in pressure within and without the container. In this view. the container closing means is in the form of a disk Ila of cardboard or the like having its lower side moisture-proofed in any suitable way. The disk I3 lies directly upon the disk 'I I, there being no presser member such as l 2 above described. The attaching member l4 holdsthe disks H and l3 upon the jar and when the center of said disk I3 is snapped inwardly, it compresses the disk ll against the jar neck, effecting a hermetic seal. By peening or hammering as above explained, the disk i3 may be given such strength as to resist outward snapping under the influence of any difference in the pressures existing at the interior-and exterior of the jar.

The disk I3 is provided with an accessible central portion by means of which an ordinary table knife or any other suitable implement may be temporarily connected with the disk for snapping it outwardly to released position. This accessible portion is preferably in the form of a headed stud or lug l8- riveted or otherwise secured to the disk.

InFig. 4, the construction is the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, and the same referencenumbers have therefore been applied on all three of these views. Fig. 4 however, discloses a paper disk 2| extending over the snap disk 13 with its edge positioned between said snap disk and the flange l5. This paper disk is preferably used when the improved closure is employed 'onjars of food stuffs which may be purchased at stores. Whenthe paper disk is intact, it shows that the goods have not been tampered with, as it is necessary to rupture the center of said paper disk before the opening 11. is accessible for prying the disk iii to released position. Upon the paper disk, instructions as to punching its center, use of the key H! or 20, etc. as well as advertising matter, may be printed.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8, one end of a metal'beer keg II is shown, said end being provided with a .ridge.

through which the keg contents may be removed;

said nipple being of course normally closed with a suitable bung or the like. In the present showing, the nipple 24 is provided with'lugs 25 instrumental in connecting the usual beer. pump therewith.

Near its peripheral edge, the presser disk I2 is shaped to provide it with an annular ridge I 8', and a resilient snap disk I! rests upon this The edge of this disk underlies an inwardly projecting flange ii on an annular wall portion or attaching ring which is threaded upon the wallportion or neck 9.

With the disk l3 snapped upwardly, the closure is applied to the neck 9", the parts then standing as seen in Fig. 8, in which connection, attention is invited to the fact that the flange l5 and the presser disk I2", where they then contactwith'the snap disk l3", are inclined to allow said snap disk to assume the proper upwardly bowed position. When the disk snapped downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, it forces upwardly upon flange I5 and downwardly upon the presser plate l2, causing such forcible compression of the sealing ring as to prevent any leakage. ,Moreover, the snap disk l3 is preferably dual tensioned so that it may be easily depressed to its active position, but will require a great deal of force to release it, overcoming any possibility of pressure within the keg bowing said disk outwardly to released position. In fact, such force is required to release the disk that it is necessary tomake use of a jack or the like for this purpose, as hereinafter described.

The center of the snap disk l3 is provided with a central opening ll through which the nipple 24 projects, said opening however being considerably greater in diameter than said neck. The wall of the opening ll is formed with inwardly projecting lugs 26 which are instrumental in connecting a jack body 21 with the disk li This jack body is in the form of a dome or socket and it-is provided at its lower end with-lugs 28 to underlie the lugs 26 when said body is inserted into the opening I1 and turned. The lugs 28 are provided with stop lugs 29 to limit this turning of the body 21. Threaded into this body is a jack screw 30 whose inner end is provided with a follower or the like 3|. When the jack is engaged with the disk as shown in-Fig. 8 and the screw 30 is tightened, the body 21 is lifted, causing the snap disk li to snap upwardly to released position. Then, the ring M may be easily unthreaded and the entire closure removed, giving access to the interior of the keg for cleaning, coating, etc.

It will be seen from the foregoing that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and

l3 is now while several forms of construction have been.

the container, ands-resilient snap disk co-operatively related with said container closing meansv and said attaching member and capable of being snapped from an inactive position to an active against the container s aid snapv disk having an accessible portion for use in snapping it back to said inactive position to .allow opening of the container.

2. An assemblage of-the class described comprising container-closing means having a yieldable portion to abut the container, an attach-.

ing rhember having'means for connecting it with the container, and a resilient snap disk inter posed between said container closing means and said attaching member, the edge of said disk being positioned to fulcrum against said'attaching member when the disk is snapped inwardly from an initial inactive position, causing compression of said yieldable portion of said container closing means against the container, said disk having an accessible portion for use in snappingit back to said inactive position to allow opening of the container.

3. An assemblage of the class described comprising an attaching ring having means for connecting it "with acontainer neck, said ring hav-.

ing an inwardly projecting flange, container closing means within said ring and having a yieldable portion to abut the container, and a snap disk within said ring interposed between said flange and said container closing means, the edge of said snap disk being in contact with said flange and being adapted to fulcrum against the same when said disk-is snapped inwardly from an initial inactive position, causing compression of said yieldable portion of said container closing means against the container, said disk having an accessible portion for use in snappingit back to said inactive position to allow opening'of the container.

4. A container closure comprising a sealing member to abut the container, a rigid presser disk abutting the outer side of said sealing member, a snap disk abutting the oiiter side of said presser disk on a line spaced from and concentrio with the edge of said snap disk, and an attaching ring surrounding said sealing memberand said disk .and having a flange abutting the edge of said snap disk, said snap disk being adapted for inward snapping to inwardly move said presser disk to compress said sealing member, said snap disk having an opening through which to insert a tool to again outwardly snap said snap disk when the container is to be opened.

5. An assemblage of the class described comprising container closing means having a portion to abut the container, an imperforate snap disk abutting the outer side of said container the container, and a' resilient snap disk.inter-' posed between said container-closing means and said attaching member, the edge of said disk being positioned to fulcrum against said attachin member when the disk is snapped inwardly from an initial inactive position, causing compression of's'aid yieldable portion of said container-closing, means against the container, said disk having an accessible portion for use in snapping-it back to said inactive position to allow opening of the container, said container-closing means including a disk having an annular ridge spaced inwardly from and concentric with the edge -of said snap disk and abutting the latter.

*7. A container closure comprising a sealing member to abut the container, a rigid presser disk lying against-the outer side of said sealing member and having an outwardly projecting centralnipple through which container contents maybe discharged, a snap disk whose pesaid presser disk, said snap disk having an opening through which said neck extends, and an attaching ring for connection with the container, said ring having a. flange contacting with the outer side of said snap disk, said snapdisk being adapted for inward snapping to cause said presser disk to compress said sealing member, said opening serving to allow engagement of a tool with said snap disk to snap it back to released position when access to the interior of the container is desired.

8. A container sealing means comprising an outwardly facing annular seat on the container, a substantially annular abutment fixedly carried by the container in outwardly spaced opposed relation with said seat, closing means lying against said seat, and a resilient lever-action snap disk interposed between and concentric with said,

said abutmentand exerting an inward pressure on an annular portionbf said closing means opposite said annular seat, whereby said 0105- ing means is held with uniform pressure against the entire circumference 01' said seat. and outward snapping of said disk will relieve said pressure to facilitate opening of the container.

9. A container sealing means comprising an outwardly facing annular seatgon the container,

a substantially annular abutment fixedly carried I by the container in .outw'ardly spaced opposed relation with said seat, a yieldable sealing mem- J ber lying against said seat, and a resilient leveraction snap disk interposed between and concentric with said sealing member and abutment,

said snap disk being concavo-convex on any diametrical line thereof and being of such resiliency as to remain in either an inwardly bowed position or an outwardly bowed position until snapped therefrom, said snap disk when snapped to said inwardly bowed position exerting an outward pressure on said abutment and exerting an inward pressure on the entire annular portion of said sealing member opposite said annular seat, whereby said sealing member is held with uniform pressure against the entire circumrerence o! the seat and outward snapping or said disk will relieve said pressure to facilitate opening or the container.

10. In. combination, a support having a seat and abutment means spaced from and in opposed relation with said seat, a member to be mounted on said support, a supporting disk carrying said member and lying against said seat, and a substantially concavo-convex resilient metal snap disk interposed between said abutment meansand said supporting disk, said snap disk when snapped to an inwardly bowed position exerting an outward pressure on said abutment means and an inward pressureon said supporting disk to hold the latter engaged with saidseat, the pressure of said supporting disk against said seat being relieved by outward snapping of said disk.

11. A container closure comprising a cap member, sealing means mounted in said cap member and a flexible disk member carried by the cap member and selectively springable into either of two positions, in one for engagement with the sealing means for disposing the latter into sealing position and in the other for releasing the sealing means.

' 12. A container closure comprising a cap member having a relatively large opening in the top thereof, a threaded flange portion for said cap member for securingthe latter to a container, sealing means mounted in said cap member and engageable with the top of said container, a flexible disk member carried by the cap member and selectively springable into either of two positions, in one position forengagement with the sealing means for disposing the latter into se'aling position, and said flexible means having an opening therein for registration with the opening of the cap and to receive a'tool for disposing the flexible means in its other position for releasing the sealing means.

13. In a container sealing means, an outwardly facing annular seat on the container a compressible sealing member having an annular portion engaging said seat, a lever action snap disk for compressing said sealing member against said seat, and annular means establishing a fulcrum for the peripheraledge of said snap disk and connecting said snap disk with the container, said snap disk being concavo-convex on any diametrical line thereof and remaining in an outwardly bowed position after application to the container until snapped to an inwardly bowed position,

said snap disk when-snapped to said inwardly bowed position acting as a lever and exerting a uniform inward pressure for compressing and holding the entire circumference of said annupressible sealing member having an annular portion engaging said seat, a lever action snap disk for compressing said sealing member against said seat, and annular means establishing a fulcrum for the peripheral edge of' said snap disk and connecting said snap disk with the container, said snap disk being concavo-convex on any diametrical line thereof and being of such resiliency as to remain in either an outwardly bowed position or an inwardly bowed position until snapped therefrom, said snap disk when snapped to said inwardly bowed position exerting a uni form inward pressure holding the entire circumference of said annular seat engagingportion of said sealing member compressed uniformly against said seat.

15. In a container sealing means, an outwardly facing annular seat on the container, a compressible sealing member having an annular portion engaging said seat, a lever action snap disk for compressing said sealing member against said seat, and annular means establishing a fulcrum for the peripheral edge of said snap disk and connecting said snap disk with the container, said snap disk being concave-convex on any diametrical line thereof and being of such ressiliency as to remain in an outwardly bowed position .prior to' and after initial application to the container until snapped to an inwardly bowed position, said snap disk when snapped to said inwardly bowed position acting as a lever and exerting aun'iform inward pressure for compressing and holding the entire circumference of said annular'seat-engaging portion of said sealing member-compressed uniformly against said seam-said snap disk remaining in said inwardly bowed position as long ROMAN B. BUKOLT.

as the container is sealed. 

